Islamic Geometric Ornamental Art

Timeline

1. 800–1100Baghdad · IraqDuring the Abbasid dynasty, a geometric vocabulary based on eight-pointed stars and interlocking polygons took shape in mosque and palace decoration, combined with calligraphy and vegetal motifs, laying the paradigm for later Islamic ornamentation.
2. 1421–1430Samarkand · UzbekistanMadrasas and mosque facades in Shakhrisabz and Samarkand employed complex girih star mosaics and glazed tiles; under Timurid court patronage, geometric ornamentation reached its technical peak in the early 15th century.
3. 1500–1700Istanbul and Isfahan · West AsiaThe Timurid geometric vocabulary spread into Ottoman and Safavid territories through the movement of craftsmen; the Blue Mosque and the Imam Square complex brought star mosaics to new heights, forming regional variants.